Twenty+ Cool, Impressive, or Funny Things About Panama
Living in Panama
| Area of Ranking or Unique Feature | Short Description | Ranked by Who? | Link to Source | Rank in the World | Year Reached |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Places to Retire | Panama is consistently ranked among the best places to retire due to its safety, affordability, and high quality of life. | International Living | Source | #2 | 2023 |
| Best Places to Live in the World | Panama ranks highly for its expat-friendly environment, safety, and lifestyle options. | International Living | Source | #3 | 2023 |
| Safety Index for Expats | Panama is noted for being a safe country for expatriates, with low crime rates compared to many other countries in the region. | International Living Expat Survey | Source | #4 in Latin America | 2023 |
| Cost of Living for Expats | Panama offers an affordable cost of living compared to other expat destinations, enhancing its attractiveness for retirees and expatriates. | International Living | Source | #2 in Latin America | 2023 |
| Guna Yala Archipelago | The Guna Yala region offers stunning islands and preserved indigenous culture with autonomous governance. | Travel publications, UNESCO | Source | Unique Indigenous Culture | Ongoing |
| Panama City’s Casco Viejo | A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this historic district blends colonial architecture with modern culture. | UNESCO | Source | World Heritage Site | 1997 |
| El Valle de Antón | Located in a volcanic crater, this town is known for its unique biodiversity, including the endangered golden frog. | Various ecological studies | Source | Unique Biodiversity | Ongoing |
| Cultural Melting Pot | Panama’s culture is a unique blend of indigenous, African, Spanish, and American influences, reflected in its music, cuisine, and festivals. | Various cultural studies | Source | Unique Cultural Mix | Ongoing |
| Pipeline Road | A famous bird-watching spot where over 400 species have been recorded in a single day. | Audubon Society, BirdLife International | Source | Top Bird-Watching Spot | Ongoing |
Business and Investment in Panama
| Area of Ranking or Unique Feature | Short Description | Ranked by Who? | Link to Source | Rank in the World | Year Reached |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Secrecy Index | Panama is a major player in financial secrecy, ranking highly due to its banking and corporate regulations. | Tax Justice Network | Source | #3 | 2022 |
| Economic Freedom (Latin America) | Panama is highly ranked for economic freedom in Latin America, reflecting its open markets and investment climate. | Heritage Foundation, Statista | Source | #2 | 2022 |
| Largest Free Trade Zone in the Americas | Colón Free Trade Zone is the largest free port in the Americas and the second largest in the world. | World Free Zones Organization | Source | #2 in the World | Ongoing |
| Cost of Living for Expats | Panama offers an affordable cost of living compared to other expat destinations, enhancing its attractiveness for retirees and expatriates. | International Living | Source | #2 in Latin America | 2023 |
| First Latin American Country to Adopt the U.S. Dollar | Panama adopted the U.S. dollar as its official currency in 1904, making it the first in Latin America to do so. | U.S. Department of State | Source | #1 | 1904 |
| Best Places to Live in the World | Panama ranks highly for its expat-friendly environment, safety, and lifestyle options. | International Living | Source | #3 | 2023 |
| Gatun Locks | Part of the Panama Canal, these locks are among the largest and most important lock systems in the world. | Panama Canal Authority | Source | #1 in Lock Engineering | Ongoing |
| First Intercontinental Railway | The Panama Railroad was the first to connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, a crucial transportation link before the canal. | Smithsonian Institution, historical records | Source | First of Its Kind | 1855 |
| Largest Rainforest in the Western Hemisphere Outside the Amazon | The Darien Gap is a dense and impenetrable jungle that remains largely unexplored. | WWF, National Geographic | Source | #1 Outside the Amazon | Ongoing |
| Health Care Efficiency Index | Panama is ranked highly for its efficient healthcare system, which provides quality services at a lower cost. | Bloomberg Health-Care Efficiency Index, Statista | Source | #2 in Latin America | 2022 |
Tourism and Cultural Heritage
| Area of Ranking or Unique Feature | Short Description | Ranked by Who? | Link to Source | Rank in the World | Year Reached |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barro Colorado Island | Home to one of the most studied tropical rainforests in the world, managed by the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. | Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) | Source | #1 in Tropical Research | 1923 |
| Bastimentos Island National Marine Park | A protected area known for its coral reefs, mangroves, and white sand beaches, offering pristine diving spots. | UNESCO, Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) | Source | Unique Marine Park | Ongoing |
| Festival of the Black Christ | An annual religious festival in Portobelo that attracts thousands of pilgrims from around the world. | UNESCO, various cultural organizations | Source | Unique Religious Festival | Ongoing |
| Los Cangilones de Gualaca | A natural rock formation that creates a swimming channel in the riverbed, popular for its unique geological features. | Local tourism boards, geological studies | Source | Unique Geological Feature | Ongoing |
| El Cope National Park | A national park that protects part of the Talamanca mountain range, home to unique cloud forests and wildlife. | UNESCO, IUCN | Source | Unique Cloud Forest | Ongoing |
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